Nebraska Hospital: NO MORE ALCOHOL HAND SANITIZER

Nebraska Medical Center, a leading medical complex within the Cardinal Health Care network, has determined that alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not acceptable for their facility and has initiated the implementation of an alcohol-free product.

This 'scoop' is notable as it represents a burgeoning movement by hospital administrators that have to date, been reticent to change with modern times and have "locked in" to contracts and 'internal mandates' that required the use of alcohol-gels--the ones that destroy skin cells and industrial floor wax and pose flash point risks when dispensers are wall-mounted in locations that violate local fire code.

New York Dept of Education: Hand Sanitizer Position

Below is an excerpt from a memo on the topic of the dangers of alcohol hand sanitizers sent to educational staff within the State of New York..

THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

SENIOR DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION – P-16

Office of Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education

Office of Higher Education

To: District Superintendents

Superintendents of Schools

Administrators of Charter and Nonpublic Schools

From: Johanna Duncan-Poitier

Senior Deputy Commissioner of Education-P-16

Subject: Updated Information Regarding Alcohol-Based Sanitizers

We are writing to inform you of an emergency exemption to the requirements concerning administration of over-the-counter medication in school settings.

In April 2002, the State Education Department sent out a guidance memo titled “Administration of Medications in the School Setting.” This memo may be viewed at

http://www.schoolhealthservicesny.com/uploads/AdminMed.pdf.

This memo states that a written order from a duly licensed prescriber and written parental permission is required to administer nonprescription (over-the-counter) medication to students in the school setting. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are considered over-the-counter drugs by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Which is exactly why we've attempted to raise the NY State Dept of Education's awareness re:solutions to their problem and the fact that hundreds of schools in the US, Canada and other countries are embracing non-alcohol hand sanitizer products....Whether Soapopular brand, Hy5, or others...

Blogs are influencers, but not deciders. And many deciders to be influenced, they often need more than just a few reminders. We defer to our parents, educators, infection control experts, health care professionals and concerned friends in New York to express your views on the topic and to contact :

Sally Schoessler

New York Statewide School Health Services Center

email: sschoess@monroe2boces.org

Lie Or Legit?? Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Poisoning

Extracted from CBS News Channel 21 (Harrisburg PA) March 11 2009 report profiling email messages circulating around the internet describing incidences in which children have gotten sick from ingesting alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Reporter Mike Parker says:
"...We contacted Dr. J. Ward Donovan, Medical Director for the Toxicology Center at PinnacleHealth's Harrisburg Hospital to get his opinion on whether these stories are "lies" or whether they are "legit"

In an email response, Dr. Donovan writes:

"...[alcohol] hand sanitizers can cause alcohol intoxication if enough is ingested. In a hypothetical 44 pound 5 year old, it would take about 30 ml (1 ounce, or 6 teaspoons) to cause intoxication at a level exceeding the legal driving limit of 0.80%. The symptoms would be lethargy, vomiting, and staggering gait, as in any case of alcohol intoxication. Coma and respiratory depression could occur with larger ingestions such as 3 ounces in a child."

Based on the doctor's response, we're going to call this one "Legit."

A child could be poisoned by ingesting hand sanitizer.

Bottom line? Educate your children about the potential dangers of hand sanitizers, and supervise usage.

And we say, don't think twice--go with an alcohol-free hand sanitizer. We like Soapopular, as well as Hy5. There are others...but these meet our budget needs!

Thieves Target Alcohol Hand Sanitizers

We couldn't make this up, even if we tried...courtesy of a Minnesota-based news platform....

March 5, 2009

Thieves target hand sanitizers

By Kari Petrie
kpetrie@stcloudtimes.com

WAITE PARK — They may be caught red-handed, but at least they’ll be clean.

Area police departments have received numerous reports of hand sanitizer thefts from outhouses, especially those at construction sites, Waite Park Police Chief Dave Bentrud said.

Bentrud said hand sanitizer can be dangerous if ingested and has lead to at least one recent hospitalization. Sanitizer contains alcohol and should be treated as a poison and kept out of the reach of children.

Police ask that hand sanitizer bags be kept secure.

If someone ingests hand sanitizers, contact poison control at 800-222-1222.

More Hospitals Migrating To Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizers

According to the manufacturer of Soapopular brand alcohol-free hand sanitizer, Ontario's York Central Hospital, a 420+ bed facility employing more than 1200 staff serving a community of 1.3 million residents is the most recent hospital to raise their hands and say " NO MORE ALCOHOL HAND SANITIZER, PLEASE!"

Noted Soapopular's President Steve Orrett "We've always been happy to extend a helping hand to the hospital sector, but its only recently that they've have actually reached out to us as they shift their mindset away from the legacy products, and embrace practical, cost-efficient and necessarily equally, if not more effective solutions that can support hand hygiene protocols without the negative side-effects and dangers associated with the ubiquitous, alcohol gel products.

UK Hospitals Doing Away With Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizers

Recent story profiles two UK hospitals that are eschewing alcohol-based hand sanitizers due to concerns that patients and perhaps hospital staff are repurposing these products and employing them as libations.

While not necessarily "news" that legacy hand sanitizers are being abused in this manner, the story further underscores the dangers of these products--and helps to explain why alcohol-free hand sanitizers are continuously embraced by leading health care experts!